From: Virginia Flagger <info@vaflaggers.com>
Date: Mon, Dec 8, 2014
Subject: Va Flaggers: Mechanicsville Christmas Parade Report/Va War Memorial Invitation
A slight chill, but a beautiful, sunny day yesterday greeted those who came out for the Mechanicsville Rotary/Ruritan Christmas Parade yesterday.
The Va Flaggers joined a large Confederate contingency that included the Capt. Sally Tompkins Chapter #2, Order of the Confederate Rose, Captain Wm Latane Camp #1690 SCV, Virginia Division United Daughters of the Confederacy, Edmund Ruffin FireEaters Camp #3000 SCV, Hanover Dragoons Camp #827 SCV, and the General W. C. Wickham Camp #2250, SCV. Before the parade stepped off, we gathered as many as possible for a group photo:
We were honored to have Generals Stonewall Jackson (Greg Randall) and Robert E. Lee (George "Tex" Wells) leading our unit and they were enthusiastically received by the large crowds gathered along the two mile route.
We passed out over 700 stick flags, and still ran out well before the parade was over. All along the route we heard shouts of “may I have a flag, please?” Units behind us remarked at what a beautiful sight it was…to see the streets lined with crowds of children and adults waving Confederate flags!?
Rifle salutes from the Wm Latane Camp were a REAL crowd pleaser!
This little fella’s Mother told us that as soon as he saw the men in uniform carrying the Confederate flags, he jumped up to attention and saluted, without any prompting…
All along the route, we were greeted with shouts of appreciation and when we led parade participants in singing "Dixie’s Land", citizens joined in singing with us.
For our Flaggers, it was a much appreciated and well deserved break from what can seem to be a constant battle against the haters and misinformed. At one point, after receiving a particularly warm welcome from one large crowd, one of the Flaggers yelled to the other marchers "Who said Old Virginny was dead?", and someone in the crowd yelled back "NOT HERE!" which started another flood of applause and shouts of support!
Many thanks to the parade organizers and all who participated in making this event so successful! Mark your Calendars for the first Sunday in December, 2015, and let’s DOUBLE the Confederate presence again next year! 🙂
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Tomorrow evening, Tuesday, December 9th, the Virginia Flaggers will gather at the Virginia War Memorial, 621 S. Belvidere St., Richmond, for a very special ceremony, at 6:00 p.m.
Several months ago, someone stopped by the Chester flag site and asked if we would be interested in a big flag. Of course, we replied YES. The nice lady hurried home and returned with a very large, very nice, U.S. Flag.
Thinking that it was just about the size that flies on the Virginia War Memorial, we contacted them and inquired if they would be interested in a donation and they agreed to set up a presentation.
Tomorrow evening, we will make a presentation of the flag, and a donation from our Flaggers, to the director of the Va War Memorial, in memory of Sgt. Cliff Troutman, and in honor of all of our Veterans. Docents from the memorial will be on hand to offer private tours, and we would like to invite all of our friends, family, and supporters to attend and show support and thanks for this organization, which has so graciously accepted our gift and opened the facility to us.
Thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
Susan Hathaway
Va Flaggers
Tuesday, December 9th: Flagging the VMFA, 200 N. Boulevard, 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 9th: 6:00 pm. The Va Flaggers will be making a presentation to the Va War Memorial in memory of Sgt. Cliff Troutman, and in honor of our Veterans. All are invited to attend. 621 S. Belvedere St., Richmond
Thursday, December 11th: Susan will be speaking at the December meeting of the A.H. Belo Camp #49, SCV, Dallas Texas
Friday, December 12th: Susan will be speaking at the Christmas gathering of the Major Robert M. White, Camp No. 1250, Sons of Confederate Veterans,Temple, Texas
Saturday, December 13th: Flagging the VMFA, 200 N. Boulevard, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 13th: Susan will be speaking at the Christmas gathering of the Middleton Tate Johnson Camp #1648, SCV, Arlington, TX
Monday, December 29th: Susan will be speaking at the Lee-Jackson Banquet of the NB Forrest Camp 803,SCV, Sanford, North Carolina . 6:00 p.m. The Steele Pig, 133 S. Steele Street. RSVP Lt. Commander Kevin Stone at scvmechcav@hotmail.com by December 20th.
Friday, January 16 – Saturday, January 17th, 2015: Lee-Jackson Day, Lexington, VA. We will be flagging Lexington and Washington & Lee all day Friday, and flagging and participating in the Lee-Jackson activities scheduled for Saturday, including memorial services for Lee and Jackson, and a parade through town. THIS YEAR NEEDS TO BE OUR BIGGEST SHOWING EVER! MAKE PLANS TO JOIN US… take a stand for Lee and Jackson in the town that has chosen to dishonor their memory and let them know that there are those of us who will not forget what City and W&L officials have done.
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Virginia Flaggers
P.O. Box 547
Sandston VA 23150
info@vaflaggers.com
